South Florida Beaches Eroded by Sandy Replenished

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it has replenished 5.1 miles of beaches in South Florida eroded by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Sandy didn’t make landfall in Florida, but the storm contributed to ocean swells that sent water crashing over beaches into roadways.

Officials say the sand replacement increases storm protection in Broward County between the Hillsboro Inlet and Lauderdale by the Sea. The project also helps restore shorebird and sea turtle habitat.

Starting in November, crews trucked 126,700 cubic yards of sand from a mine in Moore Haven. The project was completely funded under the federal Flood Control and Coastal Emergency program.

The corps is replenishing 38.5 miles of eroded beaches in Florida as part of the federal program.